Parasitic Skin Problems

There are 3 main types of Parasites that can cause skin problems for guinea:

Mites

Static Lice

Running Lice

 Burrowing Mites / Mange Mites

Trixicarus Caviae is a tiny Mite that can burrow under your guineas's skin and cause intense

itching.  look carefully, you will see small bumps just under the skin in the area of infestation.

These are the Mites that have burrowed into the skin and will cause your guinea to scratch

himself.  The hair around the infested area is usually thinning, and may be broken off half

way down the hair shaft.  Guineas bite and scratch themselves causing open sores that can

become infected, so prompt treatment is required.

Severe Mange Mite infestations can kill a guinea, so prompt Veterinary treatment is required.

Treatment is with Ivomec - two treatments 10 days apart usually sort the problem out.

Sometimes a third dose is required if the infestation was bad.  Where there is intense

scratching, Ivomec works within a few hours to relieve this problem, so get your

guinea to the Vet for treatment ASAP.  

Most Vets now recommend Xeno 450 which is a "spot-on" product rather than injections

which can be very painful for guineas.  

Guineas often carry Mites with no symptoms, but when they get stressed (moving to a new

home, pregnancy, illness, old age etc) the Mites can start breeding and causing problems.

Ivomec will only work on parasites that are blood suckers (ie Mange Mites and not Lice).  

It is also a good idea to give your guinea a CocoNeem Melt combined with Manuka & Neem

Shampoo in case a Fungal Infection is also present - guineas often have Fungal and Parasitic

skin problems at the same time.  Follow the instructions carefully ensuring that you leave 48

hours in between using Ivomec and the Melt / Shampoo.

Static Lice

Static Lice are actually tiny Mites that feed off skin debris and adhere to the outer half of the hair shaft, often around the rump.  They often come in with hay - hence they are sometimes known as Hay Mites.  Eggs are also laid on the hair shaft and look like small dust particles on a light-coloured pig.  These are the least damaging of the Parasites.

Lice 'n' Easy shampoo will quickly deal with the problem as these are external parasites. Ivomec is not required as Static Lice are not blood suckers.  

Running Lice

Like Static Lice, Running Lice, feed off skin debris and can be seen moving about in your guinea's hair, usually at the bottom of the hair on the skin surface.  They are about 1mm long and look like tiny worms wriggling around.  Their eggs are laid at the base of the hair, near the skin and look like small specks of dust.

Lice 'n' Easy shampoo will quickly deal with the problem as these are external parasites. Ivomec is not required as Running Lice are not blood suckers.